Ryo Hisatsune leads Hideki Matsuyama at Phoenix Open as Scottie Scheffler makes cut

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hisatsune-ryo/bcC14WvA/"]Hisatsune[/a] picked up six strokes in the space of five holes on the back nine at TPC Scottsdale building an 11-under par total of 131.[/p][p]Former Masters champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/matsuyama-hideki/GOHJOEb5/"]Matsuyama[/a] had a six-birdie streak of his own in a seven-under par 64 for 10-under 132.[/p][p]Hisatsune, a 23-year-old chasing his first PGA Tour title, had two birdies on the front nine before launching his streak with a four-foot birdie at the 13th.[/p][p]He drained a 23-foot birdie putt at 14, rolled in an eight-foot eagle at 15 and a seven-foot birdie at 16. He capped the run with a remarkable birdie at the par-four 17th, where he was in the water off the tee and after taking his drop chipped in.[/p][p][b]"It was very lucky,"[/b] he admitted, adding it was also [b]"more fun."[/b][/p][embed guid="3ddd81ae-1cb9-4d24-b463-6dccdf7b11b8" url="https://x.com/PGATOUR/status/2019915221054169152" social-type="twitter" /][p]He called playing alongside Matsuyama in the final group on Saturday a "dream".[/p][p]Matsuyama, who won back-to-back Phoenix Open titles in 2016 and 2017, teed off on 10 and surged up the leaderboard with six straight birdies from the 13th through the 18th.[/p][p]He rolled in a nine-foot birdie putt at the par-five 13th, drained three-foot birdie putts at 14 and 15 and drilled a 29-foot birdie putt at the 16th to delight the throng of fans in the multi-level hospitality suites surrounding the hole.[/p][p]He admitted that the huge crowds can make for a nervy experience but Matsuyama, who has five top-five finishes and five top-10s in Phoenix, said he loves the atmosphere.[/p][p]"The energy that's out there, so many fans cheering you on," he said. [b]"You hit a bad shot, they'll boo you and there is some pressure, but I love it."[/b][/p][p]Riding high after the birdie at 16, Matsuyama drove the green at the par-four 17th and two-putted for birdie from 50 feet, then stuck his second shot at 18 inside four feet for a birdie there.[/p][embed guid="cde49ab3-ae91-4fd1-8496-da0e320dda40" url="https://x.com/PGATOUR/status/2019903735401795655" social-type="twitter" /][p]He added birdies at the fourth and fifth before a closing bogey at the ninth.[/p][p][b]"It's a great golf course,"[/b] Matsuyama said. [b]"You have to play well here, strike the ball well to play well, and the crowd gets me geared up for that."[/b][/p][p]Overnight leader Chris Gotterup, seeking a second win of 2026 after a triumph at the Sony Open in Hawaii last month, carded an even par 71 and at eight-under 134 was tied for third with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/coody-pierceson/zsVe0D78/"]Pierceson Coody[/a], who posted a three-under 68.[/p][h2]Scheffler survives[/h2][p]World number one [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/scheffler-scottie/bXfIuBYu/"]Scottie Scheffler[/a], in danger of missing the halfway cut after a first-round 73, bounced back with six birdies in a six-under 65 and at four-under made the cut with three strokes to spare.[/p][p]Scheffler has now made 66 consecutive cuts, the longest active streak on the tour.[/p][p]Scheffler, seven back going into the weekend, won the 2022 Phoenix Open after trailing by nine at the halfway stage.[/p][p]Five-time major-winner [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/koepka-brooks/t0xtKfZH/"]Brooks Koepka[/a] missed the cut in his second tournament since returning to the PGA Tour from the breakaway LIV Golf league.[/p][p]Koepka followed an opening 75 with a two-under 69 and at two-over par missed the cut that fell at one-under.[/p]